Flaring tool strap mount

ABSTRACT

A flaring tool having the flaring member mounted on a movable strap is provided with an improved strap mount wherein a spring retains the flaring member strap in the desired position, either open or operable, while simultaneously ensuring positive alignment of the hook portion of the flaring member strap with its associated mount, when the strap is moved to the operable position.

Kite States Patent 1191 Wolcott 1451 July 31, 1973 FLARING TOOL STRAP MOUNT [75] Inventor: Glenn R. Wolcott, Dayton, Ohio [73] Assignee: Penn Aircraft Products,

Incorporated, Dayton, Ohio [22] Filed: Oct. 27, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 193,085

[52] U.S. Cl. 72/316, 72/409 [51] Int. Cl B2111 41/02 [58] Field of Search 72/316, 317, 409

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,563,088 8/1951 Wilks, Jr. et al 72/317 1,783,639 12/1930 Canny et a1 3,109,479 11/1963 Wolcott .1: 72 317 12/1956 Franck 72/317 6/1959 Franck 72/317 Primary Examiner Charles W. Lanham Assistant ExaminerM. J Keenan Attorney-Lawrence B. Biebel, Nathaniel R. French et a].

[57] ABSTRACT A flaring tool having the flaring member mounted on a movable strap is provided with an improved strap mount wherein a spring retains the flaring member strap in the desired position, either open or operable, while simultaneously ensuring positive alignment of the hook portion of the flaring member strap with its associated mount, when the strap is moved to the operable position.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures FLARING TOOL STRAP MOUNT BACKGROUND OF- THE INVENTION This invention relates to flaring toois for flaring the ends of tubing or the like. In prior art devices, such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,563,088, flaring tools have been provided in which the flaring member and the clamp for holding the tubing have been combined into one tool. Such tools elminated the need for separate flaring and clamping devices, and also ensured proper alignment between the flaring mechanism and the clamping mechanism. The user of such a tool had only to clamp the appropriate clamping members around the tubing, to bring the flaring member opposite the open end of the tubing by swinging the flaring member strap around to the operable position, and to turn the flaring member down against the open end of the tubing.

Such unitized flaring tools proved to be far more convenient and easier to use than earlier devices which had employed separate clamping and flaring means. Nevertheless, in certain situations the strap did not always properly engage the support stud. It was then necessary manually to align the hook of the flaring member strap with the shoulder on the support stud in order to bring the flaring member into the operable position. In awkward situations where the user had only one hand free, manually aligning the strap could require considerable dexterity with the one available hand. Examples of such awkward situations included using the tool high over the head, lying on the floor, and reaching through a hole in the floor or wall.

Similarly, once the proper alignment was obtained and the flaring member was in the operable position, the strap was still free to return to the open position under the influence of gravity.

Thus when the operator was not able to use both of his hands, certain operations with the prior art device could be awkward and/or difficult. It would then not only be necessary to align the strap hook with the shoulder on the support stud, but also to retain it thereon manually until the flaring member had firmly engaged the open end of the tubing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION mount on the support stud, when the strap is moved to the operable position.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a flaring tool wherein the strap will be self-retaining in the open and operable positions.

It is another object of this invention to provide such an indexing and retention means which will not be subject to wear and will therefore remain functional and require no service or adjustment during the life of the flaring tool.

A still further object of this invention is to provide such an indexing means and retention means in an uncomplicated, useful, reliable and economical construction.

Briefly, one embodiment of this invention includes a mounting stud and a support stud for supporing the flaring member opposite the pipe opening in the clamping portion of the tool. The flaring member is carried on a flaring member strap which is pivotally mounted upon the mounting stud so that it may be brought into supported engagement with a shoulder on the support stud. The flaring member is then firmly supported opposite the open end of the clamped tubing.

A spring is located along the mounting stud and arranged to urge the strap away from the clamping member portion of, the flaring tool and toward a retaining nut on the end of the mounting stud. The spring thus brings the flaring member strap and the retaining nut into frictional engagement, thereby preventing the strap from swinging freely around the mounting stud.

The pressure between the flaring member strap and the flat surface of the nut also causes the flaring member strap to be brought into parallel alignment with the clamping portion of the tool. The shoulder on the support stud is so disposed that this parallel alignment of the flaring member strap assures alignment of the flaring member strap hook with the shoulder on the support stud. Thus the flaring member strap properly engages the support. stud whenever the strap is moved to the operable position.

The use of a spring provides both pennanent alignment of'the flaring member strap hook with the support stud shoulder and permanent frictional engagement between the strap and its retaining nut. The device of this invention is therefore always in adjustment, and nothing need be done to compensate for accumulated wear between these frictionally engaged surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is. a top view of a flaring tool employing the device of this invention, showing the strap in the open position, with the dotted lines representing the operable position of the strap.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the FIG. 1 device, with the strap in the operable position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the strap hook of this invention about to engage the shoulder of the support stud.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention is similar to, and is a significant improvement over, the flaring tool disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,563,088. In the preferred embodiment, the main body 11 of the tool serves as the clamping portion and includes an outwardly extending handle portion 12 and two complementary clamping members 13. Clam ping members 13 are mounted within body 11 for relative sliding movement into and out of clamping relation. Main body 11 also includes a handle portion 14 movably attached to the main body 11 adjacent handle portion 12.

Clamping members 13 are provided with a plurality of selectable, semi-cylindrical cut-out portions 15 of various sizes forming clamping jaws. Handle portion 14 has a roller 16 thereon which acts as a cam to drive the clamping members 13 together into clamping relation in response to movement of handle portion 14 toward handle portion 12.

A mounting stud 20 and a support stud 21 are attached to the main body 11 opposite an opening 22 in the main body 11. The end of the tubing (not shown) projects through opening 22 when held by the jaws [5 of the main body 11.

A strap 23 is pivotally mounted on the end of mounting stud 20 opposite main body 1 1. Strap 23 is retained on mounting stud 20 by means of a head member 24 such as a retaining nut. Similarly, a head member 25, such as a retaining or support nut, is provided on the end of support stud 21. Support stud 21 also includes a shoulder 26 and a narrower stud portion 27 between shoulder 26 and support nut 25. Strap 23 has a hook 28 to engage stud portion 27 when strap 23 is pivoted around mounting stud 20.

A flaring member 30 is mounted on the end of a screw 31. Screw 31 is provided with a handle 32 and is threaded through a boss 33 carried by strap 23. When strap 23 is swung into engagementwith support stud 21, therefore, flaring member 30 is brought into its operable position opposite the open end of the tubing (not shown) which is to be-flared.

A coil spring 34 is disposed along mounting stud 20 as to urge strap 23 away from main body 1 1 and toward retaining nut 24. Spring 34 causes strap 23 to bear firmly against retaining nut 24, thus ensuring that strap 23 will be maintained in a substantially parallel relationship with respect to main body 1 1. Spring 34 therefore ensures the proper alignment of strap hook 28 with stud portion 27, regardless of the position in which the flaring tool may be used. It is therefore never necessary for the user of the tool to align these elements in order to bring the strap 23 into its operable position.

Similarly, the friction between strap 23 and nut 24 caused by the pressure of spring 34 prevents undesired movement of strap 23. Strap 23 and flaring member 30 will therefore remain in the operable position without the necessity of holding them there.

In operation, the desired jaw size is selected on the clamping members 13, and the tubing (not shown) is inserted between the clamping members 13 with the open end of the tubing facingthe side of the flaring tool on which the flaring member 30 is mounted. Handle portion 14 is moved toward handle portion 12 to clamp the tubing between the jaws of the clamping members 13. Strap 23 is then swung into engagement with support stud 21, the strap bringing flaring member 30 into its operable position opposite the open end of the tubing. Flaring member 30 is then turned by handle 32 against the end of the tubing, with mounting .stud and support stud 21 supporting strap 23 during the application of the flare.

Thus regardless of how awkward the conditions may be, the operator needs only to move strap 23 into the operable position and then to apply the flare. He need not align hook 28 with stud portion 27 nor hold strap 23 in position after it has engaged support stud 21. The

advantages for those situations where difficult and awkward operating positions and enviroments are encountered are readily apparent.

Spring 34 also assures the desired amount of friction between strap 23 and nut 24 for the entire life of the flaring tool. Other methods of accomplishing a frictional restraint between these surfaces might require additional elements as well as periodic adjustment. However with this invention, it is unnecessary to adjust the clearances between these frictionally engaged surfaces or to compensate for the wear occurring between them. The biasing action of spring 34 provides the necessary adjustment throughout the life of the tool.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A flaring tool strap mount for supporting a flaring member on the body of a flaring tool opposite the clamping members thereof, comprising:

a. first means for movably mounting the strap on the body of the tool,

b. second means separate from said first means and cooperating with said first means to support the strap in fixed relation to the body of the tool, said second supporting means being engageable by the strap when the strap is moved about said first mounting means, and

c. biasing means carried by said first means in position to bias the strap away from the tool body and to align the strap frictionally on said first mounting means to restrict free movement of the strap relative thereto and to align the strap with said second support means for proper engagement thereof.

2. The flaring tool strap mount of claim 1 wherein:

a. said first means includes a mounting stud having the strap movably mounted thereon and means on the end of said mounting stud to retain the strap thereon,

b. the strap has a hook on the end thereof opposite said mounting stud,

c. said second means includes a stud having a shoulder and a narrower stud portion adjacent said shoulder, for receiving said strap hook when the strap is moved into engagement with said support stud and a head on the end of said support stud, opposite said shoulder, and

d. said biasing means comprises a coil spring surrounding said shouldered stud in compressed relation between the strap and the body of the tool to urge the strap away from the body of the tool to align said strap hook with said narrower stud portion and said shoulder.

3. The flaring tool strap mount of claim 2 wherein said biasing means comprises the surface of said head adjacent the strap and a spring between the strap and the body of the tool, said spring urging the strap into frictional engagement with said surface to retard free movement of the strap, and said head surface being substantially parallel to the body of the flaring tool to align the strap with said narrower stud portion in response to the pressure of said spring.

4. In a flaring tool strap mount including a flaring tool main body, complementary clamping members, means for mounting said clamping members on said body for relative movement to and from a clamping position, a flaring member, a strap for carrying the flaring memher, and means for mounting the flaring member and strap for movement with the main body, the improvement comprising, biasing means for frictionally aligning the strap relative to the main body to restrict free movement of the strap and to align the strap for proper engagement with the mounting means.

5. The flaring tool strap mount of claim 4 wherein said improvement comprises:

a. a mounting stud having the strap pivoted thereon,

b. means on the end of said mounting stud for retaining the strap thereon,

c. a hook on the end of the strap opposite said mounting stud,

d. a support stud having a shoulder and a narrower shoulder and said head, and

stud portion thereon adjacent said shoulder for ref. a coil spring on the stud compressed to biasing acceiving said strap hook when the strap is moved tion between the body and the strap to bias said into engagement with said support stud, strap away from said body into frictional engagee. a head on the end of said support stud, said nar- 5 ment with said mounting stud retaining means.

rower stud portion being disposed between said 

1. A flaring tool strap mount for supporting a flaring member on the body of a flaring tool opposite the clamping members thereof, comprising: a. first means for movably mounting the strap on the body of the tool, b. second means separate from said first means and cooperating with said first means to support the strap in fixed relation to the body of the tool, said second supporting means being engageable by the strap when the strap is moved about said first mounting means, and c. biasing means carried by said first means in position to bias the strap away from the tool body and to align the strap frictionally on said first mounting means to restrict free movement of the strap relative thereto and to align the strap with said second support means for proper engagement thereof.
 2. The flaring tool strap mount of claim 1 wherein: a. said first means includes a mounting stud having the strap movably mounted thereon and means on the end of said mounting stud to retain the strap thereon, b. the strap has a hook on the end thereof opposite said mounting stud, c. said second means incLudes a stud having a shoulder and a narrower stud portion adjacent said shoulder, for receiving said strap hook when the strap is moved into engagement with said support stud and a head on the end of said support stud, opposite said shoulder, and d. said biasing means comprises a coil spring surrounding said shouldered stud in compressed relation between the strap and the body of the tool to urge the strap away from the body of the tool to align said strap hook with said narrower stud portion and said shoulder.
 3. The flaring tool strap mount of claim 2 wherein said biasing means comprises the surface of said head adjacent the strap and a spring between the strap and the body of the tool, said spring urging the strap into frictional engagement with said surface to retard free movement of the strap, and said head surface being substantially parallel to the body of the flaring tool to align the strap with said narrower stud portion in response to the pressure of said spring.
 4. In a flaring tool strap mount including a flaring tool main body, complementary clamping members, means for mounting said clamping members on said body for relative movement to and from a clamping position, a flaring member, a strap for carrying the flaring member, and means for mounting the flaring member and strap for movement with the main body, the improvement comprising, biasing means for frictionally aligning the strap relative to the main body to restrict free movement of the strap and to align the strap for proper engagement with the mounting means.
 5. The flaring tool strap mount of claim 4 wherein said improvement comprises: a. a mounting stud having the strap pivoted thereon, b. means on the end of said mounting stud for retaining the strap thereon, c. a hook on the end of the strap opposite said mounting stud, d. a support stud having a shoulder and a narrower stud portion thereon adjacent said shoulder for receiving said strap hook when the strap is moved into engagement with said support stud, e. a head on the end of said support stud, said narrower stud portion being disposed between said shoulder and said head, and f. a coil spring on the stud compressed to biasing action between the body and the strap to bias said strap away from said body into frictional engagement with said mounting stud retaining means. 